Trade Media Joint Event Lands in Guangzhou: Brisbane Joins Hands with Auckland to Jointly Explore a New “One Trip, Two Cities” Pattern in the Southern Hemisphere

Summary

On September 2, the 'Brisbane Links with New Zealand · Kiwi North Island' — Brisbane × New Zealand North Island Tourism Promotion Event, co-hosted by Brisbane Airport, Auckland Airport, Auckland Tourism, and Rotorua Tourism, was held at Yongqingfang, a landmark in Guangzhou. Representatives from Brisbane, Australia, and cities in New Zealand's North Island gathered together to promote the tourism resources of Queensland, Australia, and New Zealand's North Island. Anthony Cicuttini, General Manager of Aviation Business Development at Brisbane Airport, said that the event reflected the growing opportunities for cooperation among China, Australia, and New Zealand in tourism, aviation, and trade links, and that China is one of Brisbane's most important international markets; upon arriving in Brisbane, travelers can reach world-class destinations in Queensland directly, while Brisbane Airport also provides convenient transit connections to and from destinations across Australia and New Zealand.

He said that by working with Auckland Airport, Auckland Tourism, and Rotorua Tourism, it is possible to present a richer and more diverse range of travel combinations and experiences to Chinese tourists. At present, Chinese holders of valid passports with a valid Australian visa only need a valid New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to travel to New Zealand, creating new opportunities to include Australia and New Zealand in the same itinerary. Auckland Airport expects that capacity on China routes will continue to grow, with seat capacity increasing 8% year on year by October 2026.

Departing from Guangzhou, travelers can now fly more conveniently to Brisbane and then transfer to Auckland in less than a 4-hour flight, starting a Southern Hemisphere two-city journey across Australia and New Zealand; Brisbane Airport said it will continue to deepen cooperation with Auckland Airport and tourism organizations across the North Island in the future, providing more diverse and

Commentary

The joint promotion of 'one trip, two cities' by Brisbane Airport and Auckland Airport is essentially Australia and New Zealand joining forces to capture the recovery dividend of Chinese outbound travel. Before the pandemic, Chinese visitors to New Zealand exceeded 400,000 annually, with per capita spending of about NZ$4,000, directly affecting SMEs in tourism, hotels, retail, and other sectors. This visa facilitation (holders of a valid Australian visa can enter New Zealand with an NZeTA) greatly lowers the threshold for packaging Australia-New Zealand itineraries and could theoretically bring more transit visitors to the North Island.

However, it is important to guard against Brisbane as the first stop potentially intercepting spending: Queensland's Gold Coast and Great Barrier Reef directly compete with New Zealand, tourists have limited budgets and time, and if the Australian itinerary is too long, New Zealand may become a 'two-day tour' afterthought. On the other hand, Auckland Airport forecasts that China route capacity will grow 8% year on year by October 2026. Increased seat supply means intensified competition; if demand does not match, airfares may fall, benefiting independent travelers and small groups, but putting pressure on SMEs that rely on packaged groups.

New Zealand SMEs should proactively connect with Australian distribution channels and launch 'Australia + North Island in-depth' through products, for example bundling Rotorua geothermal and Māori cultural experiences with a Brisbane city tour, or developing short Rotorua weekend products for Chinese independent travelers holding Australian visas. The trans-Tasman aviation network is dense, with Australia-New Zealand routes averaging dozens of flights daily. Through-ticketing technology is not the obstacle; the key is whether New Zealand products can occupy an irreplaceable position in Australian product combinations.

The 8% capacity growth provides direct incremental space for North Island accommo

Keywords: Brisbane, Auckland, Guangzhou, tourism promotion, route capacity, NZeTA, visa facilitation, one trip, two cities, transit connections, Auckland Airport

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